The reality that most formerly incarcerated women face upon release is bleak: homelessness, destitution, and often a return to crime in the absence of social support systems. According to the Sentencing Project, 85% of women behind bars are mothers, meaning the consequences of their incarceration ripple through the lives of over 10 million children.
In a move that signals a transformative approach to this issue, Angela Yee, the award-winning media host and entrepreneur is pioneering a project in Detroit designed to provide formerly incarcerated women with the chance at a stable life with housing, life skills, and resources. At the heart of this project, Yee closed on a 30-unit building in Midtown Detroit this April, several of which will be dedicated to formerly incarcerated women.
“We are in the process of renovating and hopefully, God-willing, everything we will be done in May (2024),” said Yee in an interview with Michigan Chronicle. “A third of those units will be allocated to women who were formerly incarcerated.”
This initiative is particularly impactful in the city of Detroit, where resources for formerly incarcerated women are scarce. A report from the Prison Policy Initiative highlighted the economic hardships faced by those released from prison, particularly Black and Native Americans who have the lowest earnings post-incarceration. With limited resources and support, the city’s formerly incarcerated women have faced substantial barriers to reintegrating into society and securing gainful employment.
Upon release from prison, many men often find themselves welcomed back by female companions, pen-pals, mothers, or grandmothers, providing them with a support system, a semblance of normalcy, and a nurturing landing space. Conversely, for women returning from incarceration, statistics show the path to reintegration is often charged with more significant obstacles, particularly if they lack a robust familial safety net.
In the plight to find their way into society, housing proves to be a major challenge. Without the security of a family home to return to, these women are frequently left without options, forced to navigate the harsh realities of homelessness. Living on the streets or bouncing from one temporary shelter to another, the struggle to find consistent, safe housing is a reality many must face.
This housing situation then intersects with other vulnerabilities. An unfortunate and often unspoken consequence is the increased risk of these women becoming entrapped in the sex trade. The desperation for survival can drive them into industries riddled with exploitation, further perpetuating cycles of abuse and incarceration.
In addition, employment opportunities are significantly hampered. As a result of the stigma attached to their criminal records, finding stable and gainful employment becomes an uphill battle. This is compounded by often limited educational qualifications and a lack of updated, marketable skills, placing these women at a disadvantage in the job market.
Conversely, many of these women are mothers, adding another layer of complexity to their reentry process. The impact of their incarceration extends to their children, disrupting family structures and leading to challenging reunification processes. The struggle to reestablish lost connections and regain custody often adds emotional stress to an already tumultuous situation.
To add insult to injury, many women coming out of prison carry the heavy burden of untreated mental health issues and substance abuse disorders. The prison system, ill-equipped to adequately address these health issues, often exacerbates them. Upon release, without proper healthcare and therapeutic support, these women are left to manage their health conditions alone, adding another hurdle in their path toward successful reintegration.
The path for women post-incarceration is paved with numerous interwoven challenges, each compounding the other. Without robust support systems, they must navigate this labyrinth alone, often leading to a cycle of homelessness, exploitation, unemployment, family disruption, and untreated health issues.
The challenges these women encounter go beyond the economic. The mere reality is simple: many face housing discrimination, have limited access to education, struggle with untreated mental health and substance abuse issues, and lack essential healthcare services.
“We’re not just giving housing we’re also going to make sure that there’s programs available,” Yee said. “My friend Topeka, one of the partners, actually already has a program that she’s been doing for a few years and she’s being doing it across the nation and even internationally in Trinidad – so she’ll bring the resources and life-skills that the women might need.”
For this project, Yee assembled a team exclusively composed of women of color, including Jasmine Brand and Topeka K. Sam, the founder of The Ladies of Hope Ministries. Sam, who once faced a prison sentence herself, brings firsthand knowledge of the struggles of reentry. Sam was initially sentenced to 130 months in prison, a sentence later reduced to 65 months, as reported by Forbes. Upon her release, Sam dedicated her life to assisting women with safe housing and reentry support. Despite her commitment to the cause, the team faced an obstacle in securing a bank loan due to Sam’s history, highlighting the systemic barriers that even pardoned ex-convicts face in re-establishing their lives.
In a bitter twist, when Yee and her partners attempted to secure a bank loan for the project, Sam’s involvement became a roadblock. Despite a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, good credit, and her dedication to the cause, the bank insisted on Sam being removed from the project. Undeterred, Yee and her partners pressed on, intent on making the building a reality and then focusing on influencing policies that could prevent such discriminatory practices in the future.
This project marks Yee’s largest investment to date, underlining her commitment to social change and spotlighting the magnitude of the issue at hand. With an already established presence in Detroit through her business endeavors, Yee’s substantial investment in this 30-unit building exemplifies more than just a financial stake. It symbolizes a targeted effort to uplift a segment of society that’s often left behind, even after paying their societal dues. For the city of Detroit, this initiative is more than a construction project; it’s a tangible stride toward inclusivity and empowerment.
The building, once complete, will reserve a significant number of units for formerly incarcerated women, directly addressing a substantial gap in their support systems.
Yee’s commitment to Detroit extends beyond the 30-unit building project. With a hair business, Private Label Extensions in Hazel Park, and property in the Boston Edison community, her investment in Detroit encompasses both financial and social elements. Yee aims to make a real change in the lives of these women, helping them build wealth and equity and fighting systemic inequality at the same time.
In the long-term, projects like Yee’s are essential for fostering the socioeconomic conditions that allow formerly incarcerated women to lead stable, productive lives post-prison. It is only through sustained efforts to create accessible housing, employment opportunities, and social support that we can truly work toward a future that does not forget or marginalize these women.
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